Beyond the V

The V isn't your only friend. Scoop and sweetheart necklines break the flat horizontal of the chest with a curve, which softens breadth without baring much skin. Crew necks and boat necks do the reverse, sealing a straight line right across the wide part.

Sleeves matter just as much. A raglan seam runs diagonally from collar to underarm and quietly trims the shoulder, while a set-in seam plants a hard edge at the very point you'd rather not underline. When two tops fit the same, let the sleeve seam break the tie.